Post your top five biggest African animals!

[SETH RINGER]

SARG,

Magnificent to be able to take that, were you allowed to shoot a tranquilizer into the Black Rhino your self & not followed up by a Vet ?

IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD HUNT. AFTER BOOKING AT THE CONVENTION THE OUTFITTER GOT WITH THE VET IN S.A. AND HE SET THE PERIMITERS FOR WEIGHT AND VELOCITY OF THE BOLT AND DART TO NOT HURT THE RHINO AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO GET THE RIGHT CROSSBOW AND EVERYTHING SET TO PRACTICE USING WATER INSTEAD OF MEDS.
ALL OUR LUGGAGE BUT THE RIFLE CASE GOT LOST/STOLEN FROM BULAWAYO TO NELSPRUIT BUT LUCKILY MY CROSSBOW AND BOLTS WERE IN WITH THE RIFLE. SATT CALLS BACK HOME TO MY SON AND THE DART SUPPLIER AND WE HAD WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO THE HUNT OVERNIGHTED TO JNB.
DAY OF THE HUNT STARTED EARLY WITH ME TAKING A COUPLE PRACTICE SHOTS TO SHOW MY MARKSMANSHIP TO EVERYONE (PH, GUIDE, VET, TRACKERS, ETC) AND THEN I WAS TOLD TO WEAR RUNNING SHOES CAUSE THEY WERE NOT TAKING A RIFLE, BE EASIER TO EXPLAIN ME GETTING THE HORN THAN SHOOTING THE RHINO!
OFF WE WENT. HELICOPTER ON STANDBY FOR TRACKING IF WE SUCCESSFULLY MADE A SHOT. GAME SCOUTS HAD BEEN KEEPING TABS ON "OUR" RHINO FOR A FEW DAYS SO IT WAS NOT REAL HARD TO GET INTO THE AREA AND BEGIN A STALK. GOT IN ON HIM TO ABOUT 25YDS BUT THE BRUSH WAS TOO THICK TO GET A SHOT AND THE WIND WAS ACTING UP AND HE WOULD GET A QUICK WIFF AND STARTLE A BIT SO WE HAD TO JUST HANG TIGHT. HE BROWSED BRUSH TO ABOUT 5YDS FROM US, WIND STOPPED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN SWIRLED AND HERE HE CAME! THE 3 OF US TOOK OFF RUNNING IN DIFFRENT DIRECTIONS! KNOW I WAS THE SLOW ONE FIGURED THIS WAS IT! THE VET HAD STAYED BACK TO OBSERVE AND AS I WENT RUNNING BY HIM HE GRABBED MY SHOULDER AND SPUN ME TELLING ME TO SHOOT QUICKLY AS THE RHINO HAD STOPPED IT CHARGE AND WAS TURNNING AWAY. QUICK OFFHAND SHOT AND I HAD A DART IN ITS HIP!
NOW ITS A RUN TO THE TRUCK TO HOP IN QUICKLY AND TRY TO KEEP UP WITH HIM TILL THE MEDS KICK IN. HELLI IS UP AND FOLLOWING ALSO. WHEN HE WENT DOWN THE VETS TAKE OVER GET HIM ON FLUIDS, MONITORING EQUIPMENT AND GAVE HIM VACCINES, TAKE BLOOD SAMPLES, ETC. AND WE HAD A CHANCE FOR PICTURES AND MEASUREMENTS FOR A REPRODUCTION SHOULDER MOUNT. MAYBY 5 MINUTES DOWN AND OUT TOTAL, A REVERSAL SHOT AND IT IS YET ANOTHER RUN TO THE TRUCK AS IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG FOR HIM TO GET BACK UP, HUFF AND SNORT, AND RUN OFF. GOOD TIMES!

 

[Hunt anything]

Not sure how big any of them are but all the roan, waterbuck and springbok I will ever need!

 

[Sarg]

SARG,

IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD HUNT. AFTER BOOKING AT THE CONVENTION THE OUTFITTER GOT WITH THE VET IN S.A. AND HE SET THE PERIMITERS FOR WEIGHT AND VELOCITY OF THE BOLT AND DART TO NOT HURT THE RHINO AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO GET THE RIGHT CROSSBOW AND EVERYTHING SET TO PRACTICE USING WATER INSTEAD OF MEDS.
ALL OUR LUGGAGE BUT THE RIFLE CASE GOT LOST/STOLEN FROM BULAWAYO TO NELSPRUIT BUT LUCKILY MY CROSSBOW AND BOLTS WERE IN WITH THE RIFLE. SATT CALLS BACK HOME TO MY SON AND THE DART SUPPLIER AND WE HAD WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO THE HUNT OVERNIGHTED TO JNB.
DAY OF THE HUNT STARTED EARLY WITH ME TAKING A COUPLE PRACTICE SHOTS TO SHOW MY MARKSMANSHIP TO EVERYONE (PH, GUIDE, VET, TRACKERS, ETC) AND THEN I WAS TOLD TO WEAR RUNNING SHOES CAUSE THEY WERE NOT TAKING A RIFLE, BE EASIER TO EXPLAIN ME GETTING THE HORN THAN SHOOTING THE RHINO!
OFF WE WENT. HELICOPTER ON STANDBY FOR TRACKING IF WE SUCCESSFULLY MADE A SHOT. GAME SCOUTS HAD BEEN KEEPING TABS ON "OUR" RHINO FOR A FEW DAYS SO IT WAS NOT REAL HARD TO GET INTO THE AREA AND BEGIN A STALK. GOT IN ON HIM TO ABOUT 25YDS BUT THE BRUSH WAS TOO THICK TO GET A SHOT AND THE WIND WAS ACTING UP AND HE WOULD GET A QUICK WIFF AND STARTLE A BIT SO WE HAD TO JUST HANG TIGHT. HE BROWSED BRUSH TO ABOUT 5YDS FROM US, WIND STOPPED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN SWIRLED AND HERE HE CAME! THE 3 OF US TOOK OFF RUNNING IN DIFFRENT DIRECTIONS! KNOW I WAS THE SLOW ONE FIGURED THIS WAS IT! THE VET HAD STAYED BACK TO OBSERVE AND AS I WENT RUNNING BY HIM HE GRABBED MY SHOULDER AND SPUN ME TELLING ME TO SHOOT QUICKLY AS THE RHINO HAD STOPPED IT CHARGE AND WAS TURNNING AWAY. QUICK OFFHAND SHOT AND I HAD A DART IN ITS HIP!
NOW ITS A RUN TO THE TRUCK TO HOP IN QUICKLY AND TRY TO KEEP UP WITH HIM TILL THE MEDS KICK IN. HELLI IS UP AND FOLLOWING ALSO. WHEN HE WENT DOWN THE VETS TAKE OVER GET HIM ON FLUIDS, MONITORING EQUIPMENT AND GAVE HIM VACCINES, TAKE BLOOD SAMPLES, ETC. AND WE HAD A CHANCE FOR PICTURES AND MEASUREMENTS FOR A REPRODUCTION SHOULDER MOUNT. MAYBY 5 MINUTES DOWN AND OUT TOTAL, A REVERSAL SHOT AND IT IS YET ANOTHER RUN TO THE TRUCK AS IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG FOR HIM TO GET BACK UP, HUFF AND SNORT, AND RUN OFF. GOOD TIMES!

What a awesome story & hunt on a proper member of the Big 5, thank you for telling the story, that is something I would very much like to try but I'm sure it was still very expensive, most likely the same or close to actually killing a White Rhino ?

Would much prefer not to kill a Black Rhino in this day & age, also those repos are near prefect or even better than a real mounted head, Rhino, Hippo, Elephant & Walrus come out looking very real !

Congrats, could you start a thread & post more photos & your reproduction mount maybe ?

 

[RR 314]

The smallest “big” trophy animal. Killed him last week. Had no desire to kill an impala, however, my PH insisted.

 

[SETH RINGER]

What a awesome story & hunt on a proper member of the Big 5, thank you for telling the story, that is something I would very much like to try but I'm sure it was still very expensive, most likely the same or close to actually killing a White Rhino ?

Would much prefer not to kill a Black Rhino in this day & age, also those repos are near prefect or even better than a real mounted head, Rhino, Hippo, Elephant & Walrus come out looking very real !

Congrats, could you start a thread & post more photos & your reproduction mount maybe ?

YOU ARE CORRECT, +/- COULD HAVE HARVESTED A WHITE RHINO FOR THE $$ WE SPENT BUT WOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT ANY OTHER WAY. STILL HAVE NOT EMPTIED OUR STORAGE INTO A CONTAINER AND GOT IT OVER HERE YET BUT WHEN I DO I'LL START A PROPER THREAD WITH SOME PICTS.

 

[Rare Breed]

SARG,

IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD HUNT. AFTER BOOKING AT THE CONVENTION THE OUTFITTER GOT WITH THE VET IN S.A. AND HE SET THE PERIMITERS FOR WEIGHT AND VELOCITY OF THE BOLT AND DART TO NOT HURT THE RHINO AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO GET THE RIGHT CROSSBOW AND EVERYTHING SET TO PRACTICE USING WATER INSTEAD OF MEDS.
ALL OUR LUGGAGE BUT THE RIFLE CASE GOT LOST/STOLEN FROM BULAWAYO TO NELSPRUIT BUT LUCKILY MY CROSSBOW AND BOLTS WERE IN WITH THE RIFLE. SATT CALLS BACK HOME TO MY SON AND THE DART SUPPLIER AND WE HAD WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO THE HUNT OVERNIGHTED TO JNB.
DAY OF THE HUNT STARTED EARLY WITH ME TAKING A COUPLE PRACTICE SHOTS TO SHOW MY MARKSMANSHIP TO EVERYONE (PH, GUIDE, VET, TRACKERS, ETC) AND THEN I WAS TOLD TO WEAR RUNNING SHOES CAUSE THEY WERE NOT TAKING A RIFLE, BE EASIER TO EXPLAIN ME GETTING THE HORN THAN SHOOTING THE RHINO!
OFF WE WENT. HELICOPTER ON STANDBY FOR TRACKING IF WE SUCCESSFULLY MADE A SHOT. GAME SCOUTS HAD BEEN KEEPING TABS ON "OUR" RHINO FOR A FEW DAYS SO IT WAS NOT REAL HARD TO GET INTO THE AREA AND BEGIN A STALK. GOT IN ON HIM TO ABOUT 25YDS BUT THE BRUSH WAS TOO THICK TO GET A SHOT AND THE WIND WAS ACTING UP AND HE WOULD GET A QUICK WIFF AND STARTLE A BIT SO WE HAD TO JUST HANG TIGHT. HE BROWSED BRUSH TO ABOUT 5YDS FROM US, WIND STOPPED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN SWIRLED AND HERE HE CAME! THE 3 OF US TOOK OFF RUNNING IN DIFFRENT DIRECTIONS! KNOW I WAS THE SLOW ONE FIGURED THIS WAS IT! THE VET HAD STAYED BACK TO OBSERVE AND AS I WENT RUNNING BY HIM HE GRABBED MY SHOULDER AND SPUN ME TELLING ME TO SHOOT QUICKLY AS THE RHINO HAD STOPPED IT CHARGE AND WAS TURNNING AWAY. QUICK OFFHAND SHOT AND I HAD A DART IN ITS HIP!
NOW ITS A RUN TO THE TRUCK TO HOP IN QUICKLY AND TRY TO KEEP UP WITH HIM TILL THE MEDS KICK IN. HELLI IS UP AND FOLLOWING ALSO. WHEN HE WENT DOWN THE VETS TAKE OVER GET HIM ON FLUIDS, MONITORING EQUIPMENT AND GAVE HIM VACCINES, TAKE BLOOD SAMPLES, ETC. AND WE HAD A CHANCE FOR PICTURES AND MEASUREMENTS FOR A REPRODUCTION SHOULDER MOUNT. MAYBY 5 MINUTES DOWN AND OUT TOTAL, A REVERSAL SHOT AND IT IS YET ANOTHER RUN TO THE TRUCK AS IT DOES NOT TAKE LONG FOR HIM TO GET BACK UP, HUFF AND SNORT, AND RUN OFF. GOOD TIMES!

May I ask who your outfitter was please

 

[Hunter-Habib]

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#1

 

[SETH RINGER]

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AS ALWAYS, GREAT PICTS H-H!

 

[CAustin]

I guess there are many ways one can think of big and for me it’s just the big hunts.

 

[SETH RINGER]

32” Warebuck from North West area fenced. Snap shot as it jumped from bed at 50 yds.
37.5 “ Livingston eland. Niassa running at 100yds.
4&3/8” Suni. Niassa. Stalking through forest. 40 yds off sticks.
Cape Bushbuck 15.75 free range Natal. Cross canyon 150 yds off tree branch.
16..25” Springbok. Namibia free range. 265 yds of sticks. My best shot off sticks thankfully. Small target.
Honorable mention!
41.25 by 39.5 with 8.5” bases. Gemsbok bull.
I can’t believe PH could let this happen! In Namibia they have a buffer zone of 20 feet or so between free range barbed wire and 10 strand low game proof fence -5 ft tall. This bull was trying to get into fenced area from free range. Anything in between fence is free. PH just pulled over- I shot from truck. 265 yds. When we pulled up to dead animal-PH that’s a 40” gemsbok!! He never looked at animal- just shoot it!!! I took pic between fences. Could have been trophy of a lifetime.

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HOW MUCH BETTER COULD A "FREE" TROPHY BE!?

 

[Hunter-Habib]

AS ALWAYS, GREAT PICTS H-H!

Why, thank you, Seth

 

[Pheroze]

My son's springbok is probably the best of the lot

My Vaalie and this ancient Mountain Reedbuck are probably my best examples. Sorry, I cannot find a better shot of that one.

I liked my son's Impala, but that was also the culmination of a long quest for him

This Eland gets a nod from me, too, for the ivory tips and personal quest.

All of these were with @KMG Hunting Safaris

 

[SETH RINGER]

May I ask who your outfitter was please

IT WAS THORMAHLEN & COCHRAN SAFARIS. WAS DONE IN 2007 SO DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN STILL SET THE HUNT UP OR NOT.

 

[Sarg]

Scimitar Horned Oryx 46in.

Gemsbok 40in

Kudu 59 7/8

Blue Wildebeest 30in

Brown Hyena that is equal or a little more than Rowland Ward No 1 18 2/8in
Had one front foot missing.

 

[DieJager]

Wow magnificent trophies guys. I've only been to Africa once. So let me get back on this topic in about a decade .

 

[Scott CWO]

IT WAS THORMAHLEN & COCHRAN SAFARIS. WAS DONE IN 2007 SO DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN STILL SET THE HUNT UP OR NOT.

Unfortunately, the rules have changed since your safari. Only veterinarians can use darts with drugs now. Hunters can use a vitamin dart and then the vet takes off in a helicopter to hopefully find the same rhino and dart it so you can get pictures, measurements and the vet does other biological things.

 

[davidg8480]

Hunted with Somerby Safaris' Great Outfit with great people.

View attachment 527168View attachment 527169

I recognize Andre' in your Buff pix even without his beard

 

[davidg8480]

My only two worthy of this thread
137 5/8 kudu

And just some badass Bosses

 

[booker]

My only two worthy of this thread
137 5/8 kudu
View attachment 528600
And just some badass Bosses
View attachment 528603

Nice Buffalo

 

[booker]

I recognize Andre' in your Buff pix even without his beard

Oh yeah, Andre put in a lot of miles with me on that hunt. 5 days and lord only knows how many miles walked and ran... Who guided you on your Buff?